Sterilizer apparatus



June 11, 1935. c, scHwA 2,004,351

STERILIZER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 11,1935. M c sc w STERILIZER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet2 lNVE/VTOR MART/N C. 504M445 W 31 Arroe/vfx June 11, 1935. M. c. SCHWABSTERILIZER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June11, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a positive sterilizer in combination withapparatus for giving intravenous or subcutaneous injections and thelike.

Heretofore in the art it has been customary in one form in givinginjections in hospitals, or other places, to take a certified ampule ofconcentrated glucose, or the like, prepared in an outside laboratory,and break off the glass top. This, of course, involves the danger ofexposure to the contamination of the air and also the danger of minuteparticles of the glass falling into the glucose and passing on to thepatient causing reactions and serious complications. Heretofore thisglucose from the ampule or from any other supply has been poured into acontainer and diluted with distilled water or the like as required. Thedesired mixture is then poured into a fountain container which againinvolves exposing the liquid to possibilities of contamination, andforeign bodies which may be in the air or the containers. The liquid isthen passed through a tubing, air being supplied indirectly to thecontainer from the atmosphere, again exposing the glucose tocontamination as above. described.

Among the objects of my invention are to eliminate the rehandling ofglucose, or the like, so as to prevent the possibility of contaminationand the introduction of minute foreign matter. To prevent a secondaryexposure of the glucose after it is once placed in a sealed containerand to, therefore, provide a container from which the glucose is passeddirectly to the system of a patient without rehandling and danger ofcontamination. My invention eliminates secondary steps and apparatuswith their usual exposure to the introduction of foreign matter andbacteria. With my invention I provide sterile air free from all organicand substantially all inorganic matter to allow liquid to flow out of acontainer and if-a vacuum is present to break the vacuum in thecontainer, said sterilization being accomplished by heating means. Ifurther provide through my invention a certified solution and means forproviding the same to the user. Another object is to provide asterilizer which in one form becomes also a connecting member betweenthe fountain container and the tubing which supplies sterile air tobreak the vacuum in the fountain container, and such other objects,advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and whichare inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have suggested herein preferred embodiments of my invention yetI wish it under-- stood that the same are susceptible of modificationand change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. l is a sideelevational view of one embodiment of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 areside elevational views of a portion of other embodiments of myinvention; Fig. 4 is another view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;Fig. 5 is a view of another type of heating means as applied to myinvention; Fig. 6 is a detailed view of my improved container; Fig. 7 isa detailed view of an air cooler attachment.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention in Fig. 1 Iprovide a connecting member [0 which can be immediately substituted forthe sealed cap of the fountain container or bottle II. My connectingmember H] has means for sealing itself to the fountain container, suchas screw threads l2 which engage screw threads l3 on the bottle ll. Saidconnecting member ID has at its other end a hollow extension M or othersuitable means for receiving a hollow carrying member I5, which in turnis connected to a feeding needle l6. My connecting member ID has a wellI! intermediate the screw threads [2 and extension [4. This well I! maybe parti tioned by a wall l8 into two sections l9 and 20. Preferablyadjacent the side opposite that having the extension I4 I provide a boss2|, having an air passage way 22 leading into section 20. The air cominginto this air passage Way 22 circulates through the well I! andfurnishes sufiicient air to break the vacuum in the bottle ll. However,the air coming in through this passage way 22 unless sterilized maycarry germs or foreign bodies which will pass through the glucose intothe veins or system of a patient. I, therefore, provide a tubing 23adapted to meet and connect with passage way 22 of boss 2|. The tubing23, which is hollow and has an air passage way 24, is connected toanother tubing 25 within a heating means 26. The tubing 25, which ispreferably constructed of glass but which may be made of metal or anyother suitable substances, has a mouth 21 extending from the heatingmeans 26 and is in direct contact with theatmosphere. Air coming inmouth 2! of tubing 25 enters the heater 26 and flows forward in theheater 26 as tubing 25 becomes a plurality of coils 28. These coils 28are adjacent heating means 29, such as an electric filament. The air isthus heated and sterilized and destroys all foreign bodies in suspensionas it passes on to tubing 24, passage way 22 and well I! to break thevacuum in container H and cause the glucose therein to pour down throughwell ll, carrying member l5 and feeding needle !6. The tubing 25 beingheated by heating means 25 will act as a filter and will destroy dirt,dust, foreign matter, bacteria and germs which are held in the air insuspension thus producing a completely sterilized air. The air thatbreaks the vacuum in the bottle II with this structure cannot pass onany germs or foreign bodies to the veins or system of a patient.

The heating means 26 may be electrical or any other convenient means oragency. In Fig. 5 I show an alcohol or gas burner 30 being used with myinvention. This heating means which is the only available means in someremote rural sections shall be large enough to house the coils 9.8. Theheater 28 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a body member 3 I, insulation 32,air space 33 and a peep hole 34 by which the user can look in anddetermine the amount of heat within. The heater 26 is connected bysuitable cord 35 to switch 36 and pilot lamp, 31 which will. indicatewhen the current is on and by cord 38 to plug 39 which fits into thesource of electric supply.

It may be desirable to direct the flow of heated-air from'glass tubing25 through a cooler 40 by means of a detachable tube 56 before allowingthe air to pass into air passage way 24. For this purpose I provide anair cooler 40 having a body 4| and a carrying member 42 for the air.Within the body member 4| are a plurality of plates 43 to aid in thecooling. The carrying member 42 carries the air on its outward flowthrough detachable tube 51 to air passage way 24.

In my preferred structure I find it desirable to employ a container Hhaving 'a pair of grooves 44 and45 as shown in Fig. 6. In groove 44 alaboratory sterilization indicator 46 is placed in said groove 44 beforethe container ll leaves the laboratory. When the container II iscompletely sterilized it will register permanently on the indicator 46at the time of this sterilization and prove that the container andcontents were ster ile and sealed as such atthe time they left thelaboratory. Later when the container is to be used, in the hospital atemperature indicator 41. is provided for the groove 45 for the secondheating. Uponputting the container H again in hot water or other heatingmeans the indicator 4! will indicate that the proper temperature for usehas been obtained. This provides a double certification both before andafter use on the sterilization of the container l l.

As another refinement in my apparatus I enlarge part of the tubing 23 toprovide a well 48 to house a thermometer 49 which will register when theflow of air in passage way 24 is at the proper temperature.

When giving intravenous or subcutaneous injections it is often importantthat the glucose, or the like, in the container H be maintained at acertain temperature. With my invention the inflow of heated sterile airwill aid in the maintaining of the desired temperature of the glucosesince the sterile air when it enters the container I I to break thevacuum is still heated and passes on its heat, to the glucose andperforms the double function of being a sterilizer as well as supplyingheat.

I prefer to have the glass tubing 25 detachable from the tubing 23 andthe connecting member 10 so that the connecting member ID and its partsmay be sterilized before use by submersion in boiling water or the like.Such submersion might injure the glass tubing 25 andheating otherconvenient means.

means 26 which by its own action of heat will sterilize itself.

Frequently in hospitals, glucose, or the like, for giving intravenous orsubcutaneous injections is poured into a funnel 50 as shown in Fig. 2.The extension 5| of the funnel 50 is connected to a hollow carryingmember I5, which in turn is connected to a feeding needle Hi. It hasbeen customary to place gauze or other air admitting substances over themouth 52 of the; funnel 5D. This gauze does not sterilize nor completelyfilter the air so that infinitesimal germs and foreign bodies may passthrough the gauze into the glucose and then into the system of thepatient.

I provide a cap 53 to be sealed to the mouth 52 of the funnel 50 byscrew threads 54 and 55 or I provide the cap 53 with an opening 56through which I may insert a tubing 23 having a passage way 24. Thistubing 23 which shall be detachable shall have connected to it the abovedescribed heating means 26 preferably of electricity. Other heatingmeans oragencies, however, may be used. In this way air will enter theair passage way 24 of the tubing 23 and be heated by the heating means26 and pass in a sterilized condition into the cap 53 so that thesterilized air will pass into the funnel 50 and break the vacuum so thatthe glucose, or the like, may flow.

Another form now in use in hospitals for giving intravenous orsubcutaneous injections comprises taking a sealed bottle [I of glucose,or the like, as shown in Fig. 3 and puncturing the sealed cap so as toinsert a hollow carrying member I5 which in turn is connected to afeeding needle l6. Another portion of the'cap is punctured to supply airso as to break the vacuum in the bottle ll through which opening atubing 23 may be inserted. I connect this tubing 23, having an air.passage way 24, with a heating means 26. There may be other forms towhich Imay add tubing 23 with air passage way 24 and heating means 26 soas to produce the same result as hereinbefore described. r V

In use my invention may be of service in giving both intravenous andsubcutaneous injections and is applicable when glucose, salt solution,serums or antitoxins are used. I It may also be used for the injectionof salvarsan. It is also possible to employ my invention for theirrigation of wounds. My invention mayalso'be applied to nonmedical andchemical as well as medical uses such as the pouring of distilled wateror other fixed solu-' tions or the transfer from one container toanother where it is desired to keep the containers and contents freefrom contamination and foreign bodies.

Having thus described my invention I claim: 7

1. A device for giving sterile injections comprising a sealed containercontaining injection liquid, a removable connecting member attached tosaid container, a removable injecting member leading from saidconnecting member, said connecting member having a well and a passageway, a removable tubing connecting at one end with said passage way andleading to the atmosphere at.

its other end, and removable heating means connected to said tubing forsuperheating the air and destroying foreign bodies in the air passinginto said tubing, said'air passing through the well in the connectingmember and then into said sealed container to break the vacuum in saidcon tainer and permit the injection liquid to flow from said containerthrough said well in the con-' necting member and thence into saidinjecting member.

2. A positive sterilizer in combination with apparatus for givingsubcutaneous injections comprising a sealed fountain containercontaining injection liquid in inverted position, a connecting memberremovably attached at one end to said container, and having at its otherend and to one side a hollow extension, a hollow carrying memberremovably attached at one end to said hollow extension, a feeding needleremovably attached to the other end of said hollow carrying member, saidconnecting member having a well intermediate its ends, said connectingmember having a boss at the side opposite said hollow extension, saidboss having an air passage way leading from said well to a hollow tubingconnected with said boss, an air intake tubing, an air-heating member,said air intake tubing passing through said airheating member andconnecting with the aforementioned hollow tubing leading to the airpassage way within said boss, whereby said injection liquid may bepassed direct to a patient without rehandling or exposure tocontamination.

3. In combination with apparatus for giving subcutaneous and intravenousinjections comprising a sealed fountain container containing injectionliquid in inverted position and an injection needle, means for providingair positively purified by both washing and heating to break the vacuumin the sealed container for permitting the liquid contained therein toflow comprising an air intake tubing, an air heating means, said airintake tubing passing through said air heating means wherein said air issuperheated so that all foreign bodies in said air are destroyed, aconnecting member removably attached at one end to said container, saidconnecting member having at its other end a hollow extension, a hollowcarrying member removably attached at one end to said hollow extensionand at its other end to said injection needle, said connecting memberhaving a well intermediate its ends, said connecting member having aboss at the side opposite said hollow extension, said boss having an airpassageway leading from said well, a hollow tubing connecting with saidboss and with said air intake tubing for air after it has passed throughsaid air heating means, said heated air passing through said lastmentioned hollow tubing into said well where it is again purified bywashing in the liquid contained in said well, said doubly purified airthen passing into said container to break the vacuum therein so that theinjection liquid may be passed directly to the patient doubly purifiedand without rehandling or exposure to contamination.

MARTIN C. SCHWAB.

